Small Farms Week –A Celebration of Small Farming In North Carolina

The 28th annual observance of Small Farms Week is March 23-29, and features workshops, tours, demonstrations and the announcement of the 2014 Small Farmer of the Year. This year also marks the 100th anniversary of the official founding of Cooperative Extension nationwide.

This year’s Small Farms Week theme of “Innovations for the Next Generation,” is emphasized through activities that include demonstrations at A&T’s University Farm for middle-school students; the screening of a film on urban agriculture, planned for a student audience; and a guest lecture by Robin Emmons, a young urban farmer whose concerns over food justice led her to found and direct the organization, Sow Much Good.

Small Farms Week recognizes the producers of small-scale agriculture in North Carolina who generate $250,000 or less, annually, in gross sales.

Tuesday, March 25 - 12:30 to 4 p.m., Coltrane Hall area of A&T, tours depart for Farlow Farm in Archdale and Smith Farm and Greenhouses in Gibsonville, N.C.

Tuesday, March 25 - 6-8 p.m. N.C. A&T, Academic Classroom Building Auditorium; Urban Agriculture Presentation by Robin Emmons, founder and executive director, Sow Much Good. A CNN Hero 2013, Emmons encourages students to think about their leadership and to use their skill-sets to address food-system needs in African American communities. She will share what motivated her to start Sow Much Good, what she’s learned in creating an urban farm and how A&T and universities like it can engage to build the community in good healthy local food- access, employment and equal opportunity.